Hanging At Home

I realized I need to make time to blog because it gives me a much-needed break from all the academic writing I do for school and it is just fun! Everyone needs a hobby no matter how busy and this is mine. So. Marvelous Mom came over yesterday just because she was missing her kids. Daughter didn't get to visit with her but they have a lunch date next Sunday. But the boys were thrilled to have a willing participant for their game The Settlers of Catan. I haven't played it yet but I am going to - Marvelous Mom assures me that it's not nearly as complicated as some of the games they like. (Risk sucks donkey balls IMO.) My kids may never realize how lucky they are to have such a fabulous Nana but I sure do!!!

Puppy has survived the trauma of having his name changed - he was just too bossy and rowdy to be a sweet little "Peepers". He is a CHARLIE. And he isn't Grandmother's puppy, she will look after him while I'm gone for school during the day but is bound and determined not to get attached. "I don't even buy green bananas for God's sake Katy, I can't get attached to another dog!" (Stubborn old bat.) So while I am his favorite person, we have decided he is really Penny's puppy. Check out these pictures. Most adorable thing EVAH!!!

They are super good buddies and as soon as the little shit learns to go up and down the stairs so he can go to the door and let me know he has to pee, they can keep each other company while I'm at school.

I know he is big enough to go up and down the stairs now. (Such a big boy, weighs FIVE WHOLE POUNDS! LOL) But I haven't been able to convince HIM that he can do it. We spent half an hour on the stairs Saturday. I was armed with super yummy meat treats and lured him up one at a time. He got up three. Three stairs in half and hour. Gah. Having a tiny dog is a whole different set of training challenges from a goofy golden retriever puppy!

Dying of Cute

see more Daily Squee

I Miss Having a Life

So y'all know that I love politics. Some of my love is tarnished, the bloom is less bright, since Obama pulled shit like this - and I took a break for awhile - but I'm still following the news, political and otherwise. I have a ton of stuff I want to write about but I just don't have time.

Our accounts for ALL OF 2010 - let me reiterate that, one entire year's worth of accounting for two businesses and our personal crap - needs to be synched from the heavenly wonderfulness that is online banking into Quickbooks Pro and then classified so I can give it to our accountant. Barf. I wonder if I can teach the kids how to do it?

Homework, homework, homework. The reading, the writing, the Community Service Learning project that requires a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer work with adolescents. The fieldwork for another project. The fucking 200-level geography class that requires an online mapping tool that is about as user friendly as DOS. (Why oh why didn't I get all my endorsement classes in before I graduated? Stupid me.)

Puppy, getting old and arthritic dog, chickens, goats, cats...the kids do most of the animal care but not without reminders. Every day. For every task. That don't get done otherwise.

Grandmother was not doing well in November and December which means lots and lots of doctor appointments, prescriptions to keep track of, blah, blah. Thank GODDESS she's better now (when Grandmother is happy, everyone is happy. When Grandmother is not happy, I want to throw myself in front of a train.) but it's been tough.

Plus all that regular crap like laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. Husband is a rock star in this department, I am a lucky woman.

So that's where I've been. But because I can't stand it anymore, here are my latest opinions on the news. Because I know you haven't been able to sleep at night not knowing what I think about them. You're welcome.

The Arizona shooting, holy shit what a mess. Along with the rest of the world I've been hoping and praying that the survivors come out ok and that the families of the dead can someday find peace with the whole thing. Thank you Ronald Reagan for gutting mental health care. Fucker. And if you haven't already, SIGN UP TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR! Tell your family you want your organs donated when you die. Tell them that if they don't donate your organs - because regardless of what your drivers license says, docs aren't going to harvest your organs if your next of kin won't let them - you will come back and haunt them in horrible and gruesome ways. Note to my family, I want my organs donated when I die. If you prevent that from happening I will visit you in your sleep and sing the worst earworm song ever. EVERY NIGHT.

This blog is a new favorite of mine. Yay for common sense replacing helicopter parenting!

I'm pretty sure that Amy Chua got a bum rap by the editors who published (and titled - wtf were they thinking?!) excerpts from her book as an essay but she still sounds like a condescending, stereotyping whack-job in this interview. Western parents and Chinese parents are single monoliths that can be reduced to permissive vs. strict? Wow, way to reduce two entire cultures into a sound bite. I'd like to read the book and see if it is as nuanced as she keeps claiming or if she's really just an attention whore. You know, in my spare time.

Joe Lieberman is retiring and I'm just as pissed as Emily Bazleton because I won't get to do my happy dance on election day when he loses. Jerk.

So what do you think? I'd love to hear your top stories or thoughts on these issues...

Fresh Start

I read somewhere that when you tell other people about your resolutions, goals, changes you plan on making - whatever you want to call them - then you are much more likely to follow through. My follow through sucks donkey balls so I'm putting my resolutions out there for everyone to read, in the hopes that it will help me follow through.

I will drink more water and less red wine.

I will listen to my kids more carefully - even when i don't know what the hell they're talking about.

I will vacuum at least once a week. Three times a week would be ideal but let's not get carried away.

I will floss my teeth every day.

I will treasure the time I have with my family, especially Grandmother. Even when she is being extra cantankerous.

I will take time every day to think about how damn lucky I am to have a healthy family, a loving husband, food to eat, and a cozy home to live in.

And I will cuddle these guys every chance I get...

Happy New Year!

Lucky Me

My greatest wish came true - Daughter CLEANED. HER. ROOM. She also put together her new bed using power tools and everything. Her father and grandfather are so proud.

Even two inches of snow is deep when your legs are only two inches long!

Marvelous Mom and Beautiful niece #1.

Husband and Beautiful nieces #1 and #2 being silly - he's missed having little ones as much as I have.

But best of all was having Scientist Genius Brother here from Melbourne, Australia for a visit. It's a lot harder to say goodbye when he's going to the other side of the planet rather than just a couple of states away. We had a lovely Christmas and I can't wait to visit him in Australia. With the SHARKS WITH FRICKIN' LASERS!!!

Happy New Year!

Ha Le Luj Ah

Funniest thing evah!

Things I've Learned Recently

The threat of No. Christmas. Gifts. is more effective on teenagers who ask for expensive things and have seen you return gifts already purchased.

Said threatened teenagers can clean/pick up/organize around the house much more effectively than they let on during the rest of the year.

Teeny-tiny puppies are harder to potty train than golden-retriever sized puppies.

It is possible to tire out a golden retriever after all - you just need a teeny tiny puppy to play with her.

Being self-employed really sucks when you ARE the boss and can't just ask for time off.

Internet shopping is the best invention ever. Bar none. Full stop.

Research and development funding would be better spent on developing everything the Jetson's have in their house than on sending us to Mars.

Some puppies eat their own poop - I will never be the same after finding out this particular little tidbit.

Whatever the electricity worker guys that fix our power when it goes out make is not enough, they all deserve a raise and a pony.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Whoop it Up!!!